Dan – Kyaw Kyaw Ning – “Hlyat Pan Khway Nwe (Powerful King of Thunder and Lightning)” –
Le Gong Dance (Serangan) – These two Gamelan features are pretty different and both mesmerize me. The first is from Burma and features the Pat Waing which is dubbed “The Magic Drum Circle of Burma”. The instrument is striking and looks like a gilded play center with multiple tuned tabla-like drums inside it, but it also features a piano player, and what a reveal for me, in the way the melodies are formed on a Western instrument.
The second track is something that has haunted me for over 2 decades after discovering it. Field recordings from Bali, but this moment captured an ensemble setting up riverside while the documenters were on a boat. It also features Conch shells and some of the funkiest rhythms I’ve heard.
Bart – The Gesualdo Six – “Emendemus in Melius” (William Byrd) – Gorge… Really beautiful, my only question is where is the 6th member of the Gesualdo Six. There is somewhat of a rarity of Classical music on a Sesh, but this fits in a contemplative way. I think we tend towards trying to play things for each other that we haven’t heard and thus a lot of Classical and Contemporary Pop or Classic Rock strays from the plays. Every now and then Classical music is included as an offering. Very often the Classical songs are not things we are familiar with, but in a sense there is genre familiarity and then it becomes something that is likely a favorite, or exciting new discovery.
Matt – Dan Reeder – “Born A Worm” – Silly and wonderful, as well as helping to build a really eclectic play list. It seems like Mr. Reeder is a true self driven artist and musician who has carved out his space. I am appreciative of those souls who create for themselves and build their audience and voice. I can appreciate why Matt, and the rest of us, would enjoy his work because we all are doing similar things in various outlets that we are driven by are hearts and desires to create. A type of kindred spirit to the Seshjawners (tho we welcome those who have different arcs!)
Nawi – Charles Mingus – “Ecclusiastics” – Always room for some Mingus, but again some wildly different directions but it feels like a perfect playlist being created. This, I believe, is from the Philharmonic concerts towards the end of his life. I think he had already had a stroke and it features Milt Hilton on bass for at least some of the music, because I think Mingus was in a wheel chair. Also featured are excellent arrangements by Sy Johnson and an excellent band of stars. I think Hinton does the job too, but no one could replace Mingus’s drive and intensity.
Travis – It feels like we all went different directions but ended up with something wonderful. Travis’ off kilter selection seems like a great way to end. More Pop than anything we have heard tonight but its so weird and the vocals shift constantly. The Bass feels so misplaced, dark and ominous where the music is otherwise sunny yet elusive and unsettling. The two voices have some weird connecting moments and contrast each other. I could also imagine this song in an extremely heavy approach, but it just didn’t go that way. It doesn’t really stay with those feelings, ending with something reflective at the end, more locked in with weird events popping up occasionally. There are moments at the end where the music sounds bigger than the song and it loses some of its grandeur. Time of Orchids – “All We Ever Wish”
Found Sounds 